Pope condemns 'scandal of starvation', calls to end 'financial speculation'

Pope Francis kisses a child as he arrives for the weekly general audience in St Peter''s square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis blasted what he called the “scandal of starvation” leading millions to hunger as he called to end “financial speculation” that controls food prices. Such was the address of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to the Participants in the 38th Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

In delivering his message, the pontiff said that the economic crisis, global conflicts and climate change are hindering the efforts to battle hunger. Still, Francis considered the “true scandal” is the fact that “millions suffer and die of hunger when food production is enough” to cover people’s needs.

“It is necessary to find a way so that everybody can benefit from the fruits of the earth, not only to close the gap between those who have more and those who have less and must satisfy themselves with the crumbs falling from the table but above all to meet justice, fairness and respect demands of every human being,” the ex Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio affirmed and added the world crisis “can no longer be used as an alibi” in the struggle against hunger.

“There is a need to oppose the shortsighted economic interests and the mentality of power of a relative few who exclude the majority of the world’s peoples, generating poverty and marginalization and causing a breakdown in society. There is likewise a need to combat the corruption which creates privileges for some and injustices for many others”, successor of now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI insisted.